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REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag

$479.00 - $529.00

(22)

Item # 801839

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Stay at low camp or high camp in the REI Expedition -20°F sleeping bag featuring goose down insulation, a water-resistant/breathable shell and a double zipper system for temperature fluctuations.

Unique double zipper system allows you to adjust comfort as needed—fully close both zippers to increase warmth, open inner zipper to decrease warmth
Goose down is efficiently distributed for maximum warmth and compressibility—800-fill-power goose down on top and 700-fill-power goose down underneath
Exclusive REI Down Fill Calculator optimizes the amount of down per baffle for the most warmth with the least amount of down
Ultralight ripstop nylon shell fabric was specifically designed to dissipate moisture from the inside, as well as repel moisture from the outside, keeping the down dry
In-the-round pattern wraps vertical baffles around perimeter of sleeping bag, from head to foot, creating a 3-dimensional bag that wraps you in warmth
Baffle spacing is optimized to keep down in place and prevent cold spots
Multi-chambered hood and anatomically-contoured, insulated draft collar seal in heat; trapezoidal footbox mirrors sleeping position for room to move and thermal efficiency
A pass-through pocket with zipper access on both outside and inside provides a convenient way to get to your stashed essentials such as eyewear and headlamp
Includes nylon stuff sack and large cotton storage bag

Imported.

Item 801839

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REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag

4.1

(based on 22 reviews)

90%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Comfortable (19)
Warm (13)
Lightweight (9)
Roomy (9)
Adjustable hood (7)

Cons

Zipper snags easily (8)
Inaccurate temp rating (6)

Best Uses

Cold conditions (16)
Year round (14)
Backpacking (11)
Climbing (6)
3 season use (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (14), Casual/ recreational (5)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort driven (11), Survivalist / minimalist (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (16)

Reviewed by 22 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Feb

2013

4.0

As expected

By Norwegian

from Norway

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Adjustable Hood
Comfortable
Lightweight
Packs Small
Roomy
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

4 Season camping
Backpacking
Cold Conditions

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

First of all I have to say that the ordering it self went smooth! Fast delivery and excellent service! I`ve used the bag some times in cold temperatures and must say it`s the best bag I have used in a long time. I have not pushed it to it`s limit, but to this price it`a good choice! Did not have any problem with the zipper at all. The dobble zipper is a smart thing.

Comment on this review

Feb

2013

4.0

Expect less, or be dissapointed

By kbond

from Reno, NV

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Lightweight

Cons

Inaccurate Temp Rating

Best Uses

4 Season camping
Cold Conditions

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

First test of this bag was at 9000' on a "cold" night in Nevada's Carson range, adjacent to Lake Tahoe. Temperatures were in the 4-7 degree F range. I was sleeping in a BD Hilight tent, with an Exped downmat UL7, and a 15 degree rated liner in my sleeping bag. at those temperatures, I was only slightly warmer than I would have been in my old 0 degree bag. I bought this to add some warmth and shave a few ounces, as it is quite light for the rating. However, it is not a -20 bag. If it were, I should have been plenty warm with this bag, a 15 degree liner, and hot water bottles. Instead, I was boiling water three times overnight. I knew this when I made the purchase, having read many reviews. I would not pay full price, but if you want a 0 degree bag and can get this for a reasonable price, it's worth considering.

All said, I am happy with my purchase, but I paid well under retail and did not expect this be to be a true -20 bag. Do not purchase this bag expecting it to be slightly warm under zero degrees.

Comment on this review

Jan

2013

5.0

Luxurious

By Goshenprong

from Murfreesboro, Tennessee

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

4 Season camping
Backpacking
Cold Conditions

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

I have used this bag for nearly three years, including the Appalachian Mountains, the Pecos Mountains, and Snowdonia, Wales. I only camp in cold weather, so a warm bag is a necessity. In the Pecos Mountains I camped a week. The temperature never got above 0 degrees. Spent a week in Snowdonia, with gale force winds and snow for several days.
In this bag, I never got cold. It feels luxurious, has incredible loft, and feels like it is worth a thousand dollars.
I'm 52 and a bit overweight. The bag is a bit tight on me, but on an average sized man, it would be just the right fit. I got the long; you can bury yourself in it.

Comment on this review

Jan

2013

3.0

A little snug for a cold weather bag

By MapGeek

from Maryland

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cheap
Lightweight

Cons

Too Small / Tight

Best Uses

Cold Conditions

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

If you like a winter bag into which you can bring wet gear to help dry it out/keep it from freezing this may not be the bag for you. Its not big enough for much other than your body.

Comment on this review

Dec

2012

4.0

Very good not not perfect

By High Desert

from Reno, NV

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Lightweight
Packs Well
Roomy

Cons

Inaccurate Temp Rating
Zipper Snags Easily

Best Uses

3 Season Camping
Car Camping

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

I bought this bag because I needed a serious bag when the high desert turns cold at times. Like others here, this is not a -20º bag. I have spent four nights out in near -20º weather and I was cold. I was wearing the proper sleeping gear and had the bag off the ground and on a cot with an insulated pad.
This bag has performed perfectly at slightly warmer conditions. However, the last place you want to find out your bag is not warm enough is when you are out in the cold night and you can't sleep for shivering.
Once the zipper got snagged and I couldn't get the bag closed, again on a cold night. I would have bought an REI -40º bag if they made one.
I may have to take a serious look at the Marmot -40º bag

Comment on this review

Jun

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Good for cold desert nights

By J P

from White Sands, NM

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Packs Small

Cons

Zipper Snags Easily

Best Uses

4 Season camping

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

This bag is perfect for my needs. Camping without a tent in the Southwest U.S. desert gets cold at night and this bag is comfortable and packs up small (in comparison to similiar rated gear). That being said, I'm a thin, 5'4" stature and I fit perfectly in the regular bag. I doubt it would be comfortable for anyone taller than me. The coldest it's been during my use so far was just around freezing, so I can't speak to how it will do pushing -20. Finally the zipper does snag easily, so it requires being slow and carefull with zipping it up.

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

My first winter bag

By Kriz

from Arizona

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Adjustable Hood
Comfortable
Warm

Cons

Zipper Snags Easily

Best Uses

4 Season camping
Backpacking
Climbing
Cold Conditions

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

Used this bag on a mountaineering trip above 10, 000 ft. Temperatures got down to about 5 degrees F and I stayed *toasty* warm.

I'm 5 ft 2 inches tall and the short length was perfect for me- I had a little extra room in the foot box, just how I like. I could snugly fit a water bottle at my feet to keep it from freezing overnight.

-20 deg F is a men's rating, so I'll plan to use this down to about -10 deg worst case as a female. Also, the shoulder area is a bit wide for a female but I did not find it to be an issue. The hip area was wide enough and I did not feel constrained.

Service and delivery comments:

Free ground shipping arrived almost a week sooner than the latest estimated date.

Comment on this review

Mar

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Versatile

By Jeff in SF

from San Francisco, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Adjustable Hood
Comfortable
Roomy
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

4 Season camping
Backpacking
Cold Conditions

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

I've owned this sleeping bag for almost 2 yrs now and am very happy with it. It runs 2 zippers down the side so in warmer WX I leave the inside zipper open closing only the outside zip, making the bag looser/roomier, good for warmer temps. In colder temps the insider zipper can be closed for a tighter warmer bag for use in colder temps. I find the zippers to be the best at NOT jamming compared to every sleeping bag I've been in since Boy Scout days. This bag will probably be great for people w/ cold feet. I find I open up the outside zipper from the bottom because my ft are getting too warm, this to allow a little ventilation, and herein lies a complaint: I wished the inside cold WX zipper could be opened from the bottom like the outside zip can be, my ft get quite warm! As claimed the foot area is quite large preventing a claustrophobic feeling around the feet. I have other bags where the neck and head sinch straps will slip and loosen, this bag was good at preventing that staying where I set them. One pitfall of 2 zippers they both have to be opened to get in and out (this is not true on other 2 zipper, dual temp type bags). It does pack large but then it is a -20° bag. REI did use 2 dif sized downs to hit a balance btwn price and effectiveness, the loftier down being where it would do the most benefit and a cheaper down being used where loft isn't as important.

Comment on this review

Feb

2012

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great Bag for the Money

By RichD

from Groveland, MA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Packs Small
Warm

Cons

Poor baffles
Zipper Snags Easily

Best Uses

4 Season camping
Backpacking

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

I bought this bag for a steal in the fall, and have had it out in varying conditions in the White Mountains of NH this winter. In tents, bivy sacks, and lean to's. It is quite light for the temps it covers, and with a stuff sack, it packs quite small for the temp rating.

I have had the bag out to -10, and have been quite comfortable on a plain old thermarest/foam pad combo. I am typically *hot* to the point of finding a pee break refreshing above 5F. I usually wake up *cool* at some point in the night but that's what snacks are for. I have never been *cold* in this bag. I have had minimal issues with the "roominess" inside the bag, but cannot change easily in the bag (and I'm a skinny dude) and would hate to have to manage expedition style functions inside the bag, but in a pinch you can make anything work. It's mostly the girth below the knees that make it tricky, the waist up is spacious. I am 5'6" on the dot and bought a short, I have no issues with the length of the bag/thermal bridging at the foot.

The two real issues I have with this bag are the zipper and the baffling. The zipper issue has been addressed here previously. It sticks, a lot, and it is not smooth. And this is brand new.

Secondly, the baffling is inadequate for the temp rating. The neck baffle is very poorly insulated and does not do an adequate job of sealing up the neck/head in the really cold temps. I often end up with my insulated pants filing the void. Also, there really isn't any baffling running the length of the zipper, which creates a spot for thermal bridging down the length of the bag. That said, my hot water bottles/extra clothes go down my left leg to compensate.

Anyhow, for the price I paid, this bag was a steal. For a good 4 season down bag that comes close to -20 that weighs what this weighs and packs a tight as this can, you cannot ask for much more. The 2 real issues I have are workable with usual tricks we all use. That's the only reason I held back on the 5th star. Very recommended, very cost effective. -rd

Comment on this review

Jan

2012

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Good Bag

By Russp17

from Anchorage, AK

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Roomy
Warm

Cons

Leaks Down
Zipper Snags Easily

Best Uses

4 Season camping
Backpacking
Climbing
Cold Conditions

Comments about REI Expedition -20 Sleeping Bag:

I like this bag. I've used it on a variety of backcountry winter trips ranging from the Wrangells to the Alaska Range. This past weekend the temp dropped to below -25 degrees and with a nano puff jacket and base layers on I was toasty warm all night. I agree it is not up the level of a Feathered Friends bag or Western Mountainering, but for backcountry skiing and camping in Alaska I don't think you can get more bang for your buck. I think I could easily use this bag down to -30 with just a little clothes on. For winter camping and mountaineering I think you would be hard to find a better bag for the money. (I got mine in the gear closet for [$])